World Music Options from Michel Smolens and Second Sight Music

..... music for occasions.....

World Music Options

West African trio "Bal du Kor"

Three veteran performers/composers/recording artists
join forces to create an enchanting fusion
of traditional and original West African
melodies and rhythms.

The heart of this dynamic and captivating ensemble
are the indigenous instruments balafon (marimba),
dun-dun (talking drum), and kora (harp),
uniquely combined with alto flute, ukulele,
melodica, djembe, djun-djuns, shekere,
bells, tambourine, and vocals.

The band's emotional range spans from
the delicate and longing to the inspiring and ecstatic,
while their collective cosmopolitan backgrounds
give birth to unpredictable musical excursions.

Saffron
Alto Flute, Kora, Dun-dun
:56

O Ba Yay
Voice, Djembe, Djun-djuns, Bells
1:05

The Morning Wind Speaks
Voice, Balafon, Kora, Tambourine
:28

Upside-down Umbrella
Kora, Djembe, Djuns-djuns, Shakers
:33

video excerpts

photo gallery

"The Bal du Kor house concert here was fascinating
and trance-inducing. The interplay between the percussionists
with a full armament of foreign instruments was virtuosic
and captivating. The kora stole the show at times,
with its harp-like sounds, in the hands of a master..."

—Robert Cowart,
(host of Hillside Concerts in Berkeley
following the group's February 5th, 2011 performance)

West African Balafon

Michael plays a specially tuned "balafon" or marimba made by a master craftsman in Guinea. Its sweet tone is heard throughout Africa and increasingly in world fusion music.

balafon 1 - solo, played freely

balafon 2 - solo, in tempo

balafon 3 - duo with vibraphone, played freely

balafon 4- duo with vibraphone, in tempo

West African Tone Drum

This unique twelve-note tone drum was made by Australian instrument builder Al Wunder. The origin of this instrument was found to contain two and occassionally three tones made out of a hollowed log, hence its original description, "log drum". Tribes would literally communicate to one another using this and other indigenous instruments.

tone drum - with additional hand percussion and wood flute

South African Shona Mbira

Shona mbira music is known to have originated in Zimbabwe over 700 years ago. Each piece consists of a basic cyclical pattern which includes numerous intertwined melodies, often with contrasting rhythms. The example here represents Michael's investigation into the world of gentle trance-polyrhythmic play, using his digital keyboard.

Mbira - solo

Brazilian Acoustic Guitar

The music of Brazil often incorporates the classical guitar sound. Though not a guitarist, Michael has had many years of experience performing this style using the classic nylon string guitar sound on his digital keyboard.

If You Never Come To Me (A.C. Jobim) - slow bossa-nova

Vera Cruz (M. Nascimiento) - fast samba

arrangements by Michael Smolens

North Indian Tablas/Harmonium

Not only does North India possess one of the most intoxicating musical cultures, but it has also permeated the entire Bay Area. The traditional instruments of tabla, harmonium and voice easily meld with any Western instrument such as saxophone, keyboard, and drum set. What you will hear is one of several different harmonium sounds available on Michael's digital keyboard.

tabla - solo, played freely

harmonium and tabla - duet

harmonium and tabla - ensemble with voice, in tempo

Middle Eastern Dumbek

This mainstay Middle Eastern drum complements virtually any melodic instrument or voice, and creates a sensuous sonic environment.

dumbek - with Turkish G Clarinet

Caribbean Steel Pans

This Caribbean island instrument was originally made from used oil barrels, fashioned into shape with hammers. They have since inspired an entire musical genre, and are now manufactured. The instruments that Michael plays are known as "double- seconds", and have a mellower tone than the more frequently heard "lead" pan.

double second steel pans - with drum set

"With 26 years in education (20 of them as a principal) I have seen hundreds and hundreds of assemblies. Some are entertaining, some are educational, and a few strike a wonderful balance between those two vital ingredients. Michael Smolens did a superb job by bringing his "Sounds of the World" to our International Day Feast at Brisbane Elementary School.

Facing a super challenging performance situation (250 elementary school students eating in a small and noisy cafeteria), he created magical music, captivating sounds, and at the end let the kids experience his instruments up close, answering all their questions. He was so great that we asked him to perform at our district's other elementary school (Panorama), and had an even greater impact on the kids and parents there.

Thank you, Michael!"

—Chad Carvey
(Dual Principal
Brisbane Elementary School
Panorama Elementary School)